TN Police Take a Huge Step in Gender Inclusion with Third Gender Category in Recruitment Forms

The Tamil Nadu government has issued orders for the inclusion of transgender people in the police force, which is going to recruit 13,137 police constables in its upcoming recruitment drive. Transgender people can apply for the position in the male, female or the newly introduced third gender category. The concessions with regards to educational qualifications, physical fitness and reservation for those applying under the third gender category will be the same as those opting for female category.

A senior police official told The Hinduthat this is the first time they will induct transgender people in the police department. They expect the notification to come in a month and the department will finish recruitment by December.

The state has been lauded for its progressive approach towards the often-marginalised transgender community. Last year, Prithika Yashini from Tamil Nadu became the first transgender person to be recruited as a sub-inspector in India.

She had to fight for her right by filing a petition with the Madras High Court after her application was rejected. She cited the Supreme Court judgement from 2014, which stated that transgenders should be recognised under the third gender category and should be allowed to apply for jobs or admission to educational institutions under the same.

“There was absence of any column for the third gender, though this aspect now stands enunciated by the judgement of the apex court which carves out the category of a third gender for the purpose of safeguarding and enforcing properly their rights guaranteed under the constitution,” the HC bench had said in its order for Prithika.

Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana had directed the Tamil Nadu Uniform Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) to include the third gender category for transgenders before the next recruitment process. Let’s hope that such positive steps backed by liberal policies and gender-inclusive laws will bring the marginalised to the forefront.